Food-protecting device



Feb. 17, 1931. f A, ALAJ 1,793,299

FOOD PROTECTING DEVICE Fild sept. 11, `1930 ATTORNEY.

l Patented Feb. 17, 19h31 ventionas hereinafter set forth not only 'em- CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, essreivon rro Tian-THERMO SERVICE co.

INC., A' Conronnrroiv'orDELAWARE@ roon-rnornorine' D'nvrcn# Application filed september-11,1936@ serial No. 4181,320:Y

This invention relates to a protecting device for food, more particularly to animprovement upon the form of protecting device as disclosed by Letters Patent 1,598,409, granted to me August 13,1926, for enclosing an article of'food upon a plate to prevent the dissipation ofthe heat ror moisture thereof" when transporting food'from the kitchen to the place for serving, under such conditionsmaintaining the food in its substantially original prepared or cooked condition, and theinbodies the objects and advantages as referred to inthe patent aforesaid, but has for its fur- Y therobject to provide, in a manner as hereinafterA set forth, a new and novel combined in superposed relation with respect to a seriessupporting, sealing and cushioning means anchore'd to the vbottom of the body portion of the-device in a manner to prevent disconnecytion therefrom under ordinary conditions.

The foodprotecting device, inaccordance with this invention is so` constructed Yas to enable a' series of such devices being arranged of spaced, superposed foodcarrying. plates in '1. a manner as disclosedin the patent aforesaid whereby the plates and Vdevices can be transvported,'in stacked position, at one time by a waiter for serving a plurality of dinners with the food in its substantally originally cooked or prepared condition.V Under suoli circumstances an expeditious service is provided whereby a great saving in time is had and delay to the diners is overcome. The device beso Vconstructed that when serving one of the several diners, it is'readily removed from the plate with which it is associated andsuppprted upon the' arm of a waiter. Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a

food protecting device which is simple in its constructon and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly efcient in its use, conveniently mounted Awith respect toy the lvides a seat 5.

food carrying'plate, vandinenpensive to 'manufacture- With the foregoing view the invention consistsof the noveleonstruction, combination and arrangement of parts .asvhereinafter more`r specifically described, and illustrated in ythe accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment o f thefinvention, but it is to'be understood that" changes, .variations and ymodifications 5 can be resorted'tofwhich fall within the scope of the claims -hereuntoappended In the drawings'wherein :likereference charactersV denote corresponding parts throughout the several views 'j 'Figure l is a top'jplan view of a food protecting device in accordance with this invention. l j il Figure 2 is a cross sectional view thereof. A food protector device, in accordance with this invention, comprisesa tapered body portion of band vlike form constructed of any desired guage. VThe body` portion of the device isindicated suitable material, preferably metallic of any at l and'is formed at itsV top with an inwardly directed flange 2 which terminates in an upwardly directed projection 3- of curved contour in vertical section to' provide an outwardly opening groove li-. rl`he flange 2 pro- 'The'bottom of therbodyportion l termi nates in an outwardly directed, downwardly extending, arcuate flange 6 which merges into l and overlaps an inverted, substantially semicircular shaped holder 7-r liavingits inner side in alignment with and extendingr from the lowerend of and further flush'with the vinner periphery of the bodyportion l whereby said inner side of the holder will form a` continuation and increase the height of the body portion.V vThe holder,A 7 provides a groovek l0.y The transverse cross :sectional contour of the'holder 7 is suchas to provide ANTCINE L; ALM, on

and other objects in l the groove 10 with a contracted mouthfor a purpose to be referred to.

Mounted on the seat 5 and extending into the groove 1, as wellas overlapping the top of the projection 3 is a resilient member 8. Mounted in the holder 7, as well as depending therefrom is a combined sealing, cushioning and supporting member 9. The edges at the mouth of the holder 7 bite into the member 9 to compress the same between its upper and lower edges whereby the member 9 is secured with the Vbody portion. The members 8 and 9 conform in contour to the body portion 1. IThe outeredgeV of the member 8 is flush with the onte'r periphery ot' the body portion 1 and the inner edge of the member 9 is substantially flush with the puterpperiphery of t-he body portion 1. f

The groove l opens at right angles .to the groove 10 which is provided by the holder 7. The thickness of the member 9 is greater than the width of Vthe mouth of the groove 10 whereby the resilient characteristic lof the member. 9 provides 'lor a clamping action v Vtherebetween and the edges oli said 'holder 7 as such edges extend into the opposite sides of the member 9 tosecure the latter in position. Y i' portion 1 when the said plate is mounted in position oni-member 8. The member 9 provides a depending support and eusliionffor the bottom of the body portion 1, as well as a seal for said bottom when the said body portion 1 is mounted' on a food carrying plate and with the'body portion 1 encompassing the food. l

When kthe protecting the member 9 is mounted upon the plate provided with tlie `food and the member 8 is to abut against the bottom of a food carrying plate arranged in superposed spaced relation with respect to that plate upon which seats the member 9 and by this arrangement the article of food carried bythe lower plate is enclosed and the device acts to prevent 'the dissipation of heat of moisture when transporting the food from the kitchen to the place of serving, under such conditions the food is substantially in its originally prepared or rcooked condition, therefore it is thought that the many advantages of a food protecting device, in, accordance with this invention, can be readily understood, andalthough thepreferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which will fall within the scope oi the invention as claimed.

What l claim is:

1. A food protectingdevice comprising a tapered body portion of band like `form havdevice is employed,

ing extended outwardly from its lower edge a laterally and downwardly disposed' curved flange depending below said edge, said flange' merging at its outer terminus into and bearing on an upstanding, inverted, curved, open bottom holder of a contour greater than a half circle, said holder having its outer side and a portion ot vits top vabutting thefinner Jrace of the downwardly extending part and a portion ol' the inner face of the top of said llange and having its inner side spaced from said `lower edge andiorining a downward oi the sealing' member to clamp the latter in position.

2. A food Aprotecting device comprising'a vbody portion of'band like forni having extended outwardly from its lower edge a laterally and downwardlyrdisposed tlangehave e ling its outer part depending belowy said The membersS'and 9 are co-extensive with Y' lower edge, said flange having its outer ter- -minus merging into an inverted, upstanding, curved, open bottom holder, said flange bearing against and enclosing-*said holder,

said holder having its outer part abutting vthe inner face of the outer partof the flange and the top of its inner Vpart spacedl from continuation of said body to increase the height of the latter, saidholder providing a said lower edge, the inner part-of said holde er aligning with land forming a downward continnation ot said body portion` to increase the heightof the lattensaid holder forming a downwardly opening groove having a contracted mouth, and a resilient sealing member snugly fitting the walls of and depending from the mouth of the groove, the contracted mouth of Vthe groove providing' for the edges of the holderbelow said lower edge holding under a state of compression an intermediate part oic each side 'of the sealing member to clamp the latter with said body port-ion exteriorly of the latter.

8.v A food protecting devicecomprising ak body portion of band like form having extended outwardly fromit-s lower edge a` lat'- erally and downwardly disposed flange having its outer part depending below said lower edge, said flange having its outerterminus merging into an inverted, upstanding, curved, open bottom holder, said flange bearing lagainst and enclosing saijd holder,

'said holder ,having its outer part abutting the inner face of the o-uterpart of the flange and the top of its inner part spaced from said lower edge, the inner part of said -holder aligning with and Jforming a downward continuation of said body portion to'increase the height of the latter, said holder for-ming a, downwardly opening groove having a contracted mouth, a resilient sealing member snugly litting the walls of and depending lfrom the mouth of the groove, the contract- .-ed mouth of the groove providing Yfor the edges of theholder below said lower' edgeV holding under a state of compression an inL Y termediate part of each side ofthe sealing -member toolamp thelatter withsaid body m portion exterorly of the latter, and saidsealing member being of oval contour in cross section. Y

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature y hereto.V v

e ANTOINE` L. ALAJ. 

